Fish boning device



Patented Feb. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEv 11 Claims.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of a tool by which the bony skeleton of a sh remaining after the head and tail havebeen severed may readily be removed, thereby avoid- 5 ing the inconvenience and annoyance of removing the bones at the table. It is to be understood that the device is not necessarily limited in its use to the foregoing purpose, but that it is particularly applicable therefor.

Other features of my invention will be described in the specication and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

My invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which I A have illustrated a preferred embodiment and a modication thereof, and in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a device embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side View of a modified form of clamping ends for my device;

1 Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective View of a modified form of my device; and

Fig. 4 is a section of Fig. 1 in the plane 4-4.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughoutthe drawing.

Referring to the drawing and particularly to Fig. 1, I and 2 are relatively movable members pivotally connected together, as at 3, to form a forceps-like instrument having gripping jaws at one side of the pivot and handles at the other side thereof. At the jaws, the rst member I is provided with a portion, indicated generally at 4, which is substantially flattened as compared with the contiguous portions of said member and terminates in a transverse cutting edge 5, preferably positioned somewhat in advance of the extremity of the other member.

In Fig. 2, the flattened portion 4 is illustrated as somewhat more pronounced than that illus- 4o trated in Fig. 1. The degree of latness merely determines the amount of stock in back of the cutting edge 5 and in no way affects the utility of my device.

The member 2 is provided at its jaw end which 45 faces the flattened end of the member I with projecting gripping means, preferably comprising a plurality of prongs. In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the gripping means comprises two spaced prongs 6, forming a mouse- 5o tooth grip.

In the embodiment illustrated, the handle ends of the members I and 2 are provided with thumb and finger rings I and 8 respectively, although it will, of course, be understood that the handles 55 may be similar to handles of forceps. One of the members, as 2, is preferably provided with a laterally extending projection 9 formed with ratchet teeth I 0, while the other member I is provided with a ratchet tooth I I, which is adapted to cooperate with the ratchet teeth I0 of the 5 member 9. The members I and 2 are preferably of steel and are resilient and so designed that the tooth II is normally urged toward and into cooperation with the ratchet teeth I0, thus normally preventing the jaws from separating after 10 they are clamped together or, in other words, holding the jaws in clamped position.

'I'he operation of the device embodying my invention when used for removing the bones from a fish, is as follows: 15

The head and tail of the fish are preferably rst removed and the ventral surface slitted and the viscera removed in the usual manner, thereby exposing the bony skeleton. 'I'he sharpened edge 5 of the member I is used to separate the 20 tissue from the bony skeleton at the anterior end of the vertebral column which, in the em.- bodiment illustrated in Figs. l and 2, is received between the prongs 6 and securely held thereby against the upper surface of the cutting mem- 25 ber. The operator then pulls the bony skeleton from the fish by grasping the instrument in one hand and using the other hand simultaneously to tease the muscle tissue away from its bony attachment. He is thereby enabled to remove 30 the bones intact and the fish may be prepared for service free from the usual bones.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Fig. 3,the end of the member la is provided with a curved cutting edge 5a adjacent which is 35 a depression I2. In other words, the cutting end of member Ia. is similar to that of a gouge.

While I have described my invention in its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the words which I have used are words of description rather than of limitation and that changes within the purview of the appended claims may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit of my invention in its broader aspects.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the character described, a pair of pivotally connected members having handles at one end and jaws at the other, the jaw end of one of said members being flattened and provided at its extremity with a transverse cutting edge and the jaw end of the other member being provided with a gripping means cooperating with the flattened portion of the first mentioned member. I5

2. In a device of the character described, first and second members pivotally connected together at intermediate portions thereof to form a forceps-like instrument, the first member being provided at an end with a transverse cutting edge, and the end of the second member cooperating with the first member at a point intermediate its end and the pivotal connection to form a gripping means.

3. In a device of the character described, first and second members pivotally connected together at intermediate portions thereof, the first member being provided at an end with a transverse cutting edge and the second member being provided with prongs facing the first member adjacent said cutting edge; the end of the member having the cutting edge projecting beyond the other member.

4. In a device of the character described, first and second relatively movable members, the first of which is provided at one end with a fiattened portion having a transverse cutting edge and the second of which is provided with a projection facing the flattened portion of the first member; said projection and said flattened portion serving as a clamp.

5. In a device for removing bones from fish and the like, first and second relatively movable members, the end portion of the first member having a transverse cutting edge for separating the bone from the flesh, and the second member being provided with a projection facing the first member and adapted to cooperate therewith to engage the vertebral column of a flsh.

6. In a device for removing bones from fish and the like, first and second relatively movable members, the end portion of the first of which is provided with a fiattened portion having a transverse cutting edge for separating the bone from the flesh, and the second of which is provided with spaced prongs facing the flattened portion of the first member and adapted to embrace the vertebral column of a fish and clamp the same against said flattened portion.

7. In a device for removing bones from fish and the like, first and second relatively movable members, the end portion of the first of which is provided with a transverse cutting edge for separating the bone from the fiesh, and the second of which is provided with spaced prongs facing the first member and adapted to embrace the vertebral column of a fish and clamp the same against said first member; said cutting edge eX- tending somewhat in advance of said prongs.

8. In a device of the character described, first and second pivotally connected members having handles at one end and jaws at the other, the jaw of said first member terminating in a transverse cutting edge and the jaw of the other member being provided with gripping means positioned operatively to engage the jaw of said first member.

9. In a device of the character described, two relatively movable members, one of said members being provided with a cutting edge and the other member being provided with a protuberance forming a gripping means positioned operatively to engage said first member adjacent the cutting edge thereof.

10. In a device of the character described, two relatively movable members, the end of the first of which terminates in a cutting edge adapted to cleave and separate the flesh from the bones of a fish, the other of which is provided with a projection facing said first member and adapted to cooperate therewith to clamp the vertebral column of a fish therebetween, and means for securing said members in vertebra engaging position.

11. In a device of the character described, two pivotally connected members, the first'of said members comprising a substantially blade-like element provided with a cutting edge adapted to cleave and separate the fiesh from the bones of a fish, and the second member being provided with a projection forming a gripping means adapted cooperatively to engage the first member to clamp the vertebral column of a fish therebetween.

I-IOMER L. NELMS. 

